The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Ice-A-Fair to return for 12th annual event
The 12th annual Ice-AFair is scheduled for Feb. 1 in downtown Vermilion.
Main Street Vermilion sponsors the yearly winter festival.
“Ice-A-Fair brings people outdoors to experience the beauty of the season and see how downtown Vermilion glistens with ice carvings that line the streets,” said event co-coordinator Jeanette Schaefer. “Our town is beautiful in the summer, but Ice-A-Fair really adds sparkle in the winter for thousands of visitors for this one day.”
The daylong event begins at 11 a.m. with finished ice sculptures set around downtown.
There are ice carving demonstrations throughout the day.
Over the past 12 years, the event has grown to include more than 60 sculptures throughout downtown.
“Main Street is most appreciative and honored by the sponsorship our local businesses provide to this free event that everyone in the community can enjoy,” Schaefer said.
All sculptures remain on display as nature allows.
It is free to wander to watch the ice carving and look at the sculptures.
Festival-goers can get around on foot for via Lolly the Trolley, which runs until 4 p.m.
Rides cost $2 a person or $5 per family.
Mascots Jolly the Snowman and Pete the Penguin will greet guests around downtown and shops and restaurants will open for visitors.
The Main Street Vermilion office, 685 Main St., will open and serve hot chocolate, cider and cookies and selling raffle tickets for a variety of themed-baskets.
Prizes also include a $1,000 Cold Hard Cash drawing; four Indians tickets; and a six-month car wash package from Liberty Auto Wash.
Friends of Ritter Library will host their annual Chocolate Festival starting at 10 a.m. where visitors can get sample chocolate confections.
Ice-A-Fair end with “Fire & Ice,” dubbed “a grand display where ice and flame work together to create an ever-changing vision of shapes and textures in a race to see if the fire outlasts the ice or if the melting ice will put out the fire.”
It takes place at 6 p.m. at Exchange Park at Main Street and Liberty Avenue.
“We’re thankful for a group of Main Street supporters who helped bring back this incredible finale to Ice-A-Fair,” said co-coordinator and Ice-A-Fair creator Janet Ruh. “It is definitely a highlight of the day and will bring families downtown after the sun sets.”
Once the flames subside, Main Street will host a Meltdown Party at 7 p.m. at the Vermilion Boat Club with delicious hors d’oeuvres buffet, music, gathering around the fireplace and a beautiful night time view of the Vermilion River.